Sealing and pouring closures



Feb. 28, 1956 STONE SEALING AND POURING CLOSURES 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed April 15, 1952 INVENTOR. ASHTON K.STONE BY WM% ATTORNEYS 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Ill/fl,

INVEN TOR. ASHTON K. STONE ATTORN E YS Feb. 28, 1956 A. K. STONE SEALING AND POURING CLOSURES Filed April 15, 1952 1-54 F F a United States Patent SEALING AND POURENG CLOSURES Ashton K. Stone, Marion, Pa.

Application April 15, 1952, Serial No. 282,313

6 Claims. (Cl. 222-529) This invention relates to sealing and pouring closures for cans, drums, pails and similar containers for various liquids such as petroleum products, paint products, chemicals and the like.

In accordance with the present invention, the closure for a container having an external threaded neck comprises, as one component, a screw cap whose top has a central integral section defining and bounded by a rim section and, as another component a pouring spout made of soft, resilient material resistant to the container .contents and having at one end an integral outwardly extending flange. For shipment .of the container, .the spout is within the container with its flange squeezed between the rim section of the cap and the outer end of the neck to provide a liquid tight seal; the open, flanged end of the spout being closed by the aforesaid central section of the screw cap. For dispensing of the container contents, the central section of the screw cap is removed by knocking or cutting it out toprovide an opening through which the spout may extend exteriorl-y of the container in pouring position for which the spout flange is squeezed between the rim section of the screw cap and the outer edge .of the container neck.

More specifically, in some forms of the invention, the spout is bodily reversed in position after the central .in- :tegra l section of the screw cap has been removed whereas in other forms of the invention, the discharge end of the spout is depressed within the spout body for shipment of the container and, after removal of the integral central section .of the screw cap, is returned to normal extended position. In the former, the rim section of the screw cap engages one face of the spout flange for the shipping position of the spout and engages the opposite face .of the spout flange after reversal of the spout to the pouring position: in the latter, the rim section of the screw cap engages the same face of the spout flange for both the shipping and pouring positions of the spout.

'Further in accordance with the invention, the closure may also include a removable end cap for the discharge end of the spout, which end cap is preferably in place when'the spout is in shipping position. The end cap may be threadedly received by the spout or preferably it is either a metal snap-on cap or a soft, pliable plastic cap.

Further in accordance with the invention, the closure also includes a shipping seal, such as an nnthreaded cap, which overlies the screw cap to prevent accidental removal of its integral knock-out section and to preclude removal of the screw cap without evidence of tampering.

The invention further resides in features of construction, combination and arrangement hereinafter described vand claimed.

For a more detailed understanding of the invention and for illustration of preferred embodiments thereof, reference is to be had to the accompanying drawings in which:

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of the components .of one form of sealing and pouring closure;

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Fig. 2 is ,a sectional view of the parts appearing in Fig. 1 as assembled in container-shipping relation;

Fig. 3 is sectional view of parts appearing in Fig. '2 as re-assem'bled in pouring relation;

Fig. 4A is a sectional view of a modification of the spout closure of Fig. l; i

Fig. 43 illustrates application of the spout closure of Fig. 4A to a spout;

Figs. 5 A, 5B and 5C are sectional views illustrating another modification of the spout closure of Fig. l; and

Figs. 6 and 7 illustrate the shipping and pouring posh tions respectively of a modification of the closure of Fig. l utilizing a diflerent pouring spout.

Th closure shown Fig- 1 compr se five ompon n sth n ck N, the spout th damn ng can (3., th an tamper seal T, and the spout closure 'E. For clarity, the h kness of the n screw c p and seal s exa ra e in the drawings. The neck member ,N comprises ,a tubular .exteriorly-threaded section .11 provided at one end with ,a flange 12 or other suitable integral structure for attachment to the wall 13 of ,a container per pherally ,of an ope herethr ug Usu lly, but n t n essarily, .the neck N is .of .thin sheet metal and is attached as by soldering, welding, crimping or the like .to the wall structure 13 of the container P. As indicated in Figs. 2 and 3., the threaded section 11 of the neck N projects exteriorly of the container.

The pouring spout S .is.of soft, resilient material, such as a :polyvinyl plastic or any of the various types of synthetic rubbers, including neoprene, which can be molded and which will retain its shape with adequate rigidity to serve as a pouring spout. The type of material used in a particular instance will be selected to resist deterioration .by the liquid to be dispensed. As shown in Fig. 1, the body 14 of the spout S is preferably of tapering cross section, and in any .event terminates at one end in an outwardly extending flange 15.

For shipment of the filled container, the small end ,of the pouring spout ,S is passed through the neck N ,(Fig. 2) so that the body 14 of the ,spout extends into the in- ,terior of the container, the face 15b of flange 15 engaging the outer edge 17 of the neck N when the spout is in this position. The spout 'is clamped in this position by caper cover C which vthreadably engages the neck N. As the screw cap C is tightened, it top marginal or section 20 deforms the soft flange 15 ,of the spout to insure ,a liquid-tight .seal between the spout, neck and cap. The central section 19 of the screw cap, which is an integral part of the cover top, overlies the open :upper end of the spout (Fig. 2) so that there can be no discharge through th spo t :S h ror not the en cap E of th spout is in place on the normal discharge end ,16 of the spout. As later explained, this central section 19 .of the screw cap is defined, as by scoring, so that ;it may later be pressed, knocked or cut out of the cap top.

Preferably, the closure includes an outer seal T which :in the form shown is a thin metal cap which ;is ,unth-readed so that it may he slipped over the screw-cap C (Fig. .12). The lower .edge 21 of cap T may he ,crimped under the lower edge 22 .of the screw cap so that the cap cannot be removed without leaving evidence of tampering. The outer seal T when .of the cap type shown also prevents accidental press-out or iknock-out of the central section 19.0f cap (3. This outer seal T has no leak-proof pharacteristics and may be replaced by other suitable types of anti-tampering seal.

Upon arrival of the container at point ,of dispensation of its contents, the seal T is removed. The screw cap C and spout S are removed and separated. The central section 19 of the screw cap C is then pressed or cu ou leaving the top rimasection 20. To facilitate such removal of the central section, as above stated, it may .be

diameter of the tapered body section 14 of the spout but smaller than the diameter of flange 15. The spout S is then inserted through this opening in inverted position .with respect to that shown in Fig. 2 and the cap C is again screwed onto the neck 11 of the container so that the bodily-reversed spout now extends exteriorly of the container as shown in Fig. 3. With the spout in such inverted or pouring position, the face 15:: of the spout flange 15 is in engagement with the outer edge 17 of the neck so that as the cap is screwed down, its rim portion 20 deforms the flange to effect a liquid-tight seal between the neck, spout and cap.

After partial removal of the container contents, it may be desirable for one reason or another again to return the spout to position within the container as in Fig. 2, in which case the outer shipping seal T may be used as a dust cover overlying the neck N, screw collar C and open upper end of the spout S.

A small cap for closing the discharge tip 16 of the spout S may be of the same soft type of plastic used for the spout or it may be one of the hard plastics such as phenol formaldehyde or urea formaldehyde: alternatively, it may be of tin plate, tern plate or black plate again depending upon the nature of the liquid. The cap E (Figs. 1 to 3) may be of soft or hard material internally threaded to engage threads molded at the discharge tip 16 of the spout. When of soft plastic, Figs. 4A, 4B, the cap E1 has a bead or inwardly turned lip at its open end. To close the spout, the cap E1 is pulled or stretched over the discharge end 16a of the spout to effect sealing engagement between the cap lip 25 and an outwardly extending flange 26 molded near the end of the discharge tip.

Another preferred tip cap E2 of the snap-on type is shown in Figs. 5A, 5B, 5C. It is of thin, springy metal in the shape of a slightly convex disc 27 whose periphery terminates in a series of depending spring fingers 28 with inturned ends 29. When the center of disc 27, Fig. 5A, is depressed, it snaps to the position shown in Fig. 5B with its fingers defining an opening somewhat greater in diameter than the flange 30 at the end of discharge tip 16b of the spout. When the fingers 28 are pressed from opposite sides of cap E2, the disc 27 snaps to its original position, Fig. 5C. The finger tips 29 of the cap E2 sink into the soft material of the spout and hold the cap firmly in position. Preferably, for enhanced sealing, the cap E2 is provided with an insert 31 of soft rubber, plastic or the like which is pressed by the cap E2 against the outer face of the tip flange 30. Any of these caps may be used either with the reversible spout S of Figs. 1 to 3 or the push-in spout of Figs. 6 and 7 now to be described.

In the modification shown in Figs. 6 and 7, the spout S1, like the spout of the preceding figures, is of soft resilient material and is provided with a flange 15 which is clamped between the neck N and screw cap C. The body section 14a of spout S1 is connected to the discharge tip section 160 by an integral diaphragm section 32. To close the filled container for shipment, the spout S1 is collapsed, Fig. 6, with its discharge tip 16c telescoped within the body section 14a. The screw cap C is tightened down on the neck to clamp the soft flange 15 of the spout S1 against the outer end of the neck N so to seal the cap, neck and spout. The central integral section 19 of the screw cap overlies the opening at the upper end of the body section 14a of the spout. Preferably, the tip of the spout is closed by tip cap E, E1 or E2 for this position of the spout.

As in the modification of Figs. 1 to 3, a sealing cap T may he slipped over the cap and crimped in place to avoid accidental knockout of the central section.

To put the closure of Figs. 6 and 7 in condition for pouring, it is only necessary to knock out, press out or otherwise remove the central section 19 of cap C, whereupon the tip 16c may be pulled out to extend the spout S1 to the position shown in Fig. 7. It is not necessary, as in Figs. 1 to 3, to remove the cap and spout and bodily to reverse the position of the spout. With this modification, the upper face of spout flange 15 is engaged by the rim 20 of cap C for both the shipping and pouring positions of the spout, and the lower face of flange 15 is engaged by the end of neck N for both of said spout positions.

In both the modifications of Figs. 1 to 3 and 6, 7, the screw cap may be so internally formed near the closed top as to provide a groove which receives the edge of the flange 15 of the spout. Thus the spout and cap may be assembled for handling as a unit in closing a filled container for shipment.

It shall be understood the invention is not limited to the arrangements specifically shown and that equivalent arrangements are comprehended by the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. In combination with 'a container having a threaded neck extending exteriorly of the container, a sealing and pouring closure for said container comprising a pouring spout of deformable material, said pouring spout having an open inlet end with an integral flange of said material extending outwardly from said open inlet end, said spout for shipping of the container extending into said neck and for pouring from the container extending outwardly from said neck, and a screw cap having a threaded side section for removably threadably engaging the neck of the container, said screw cap having a closed top formed by a rim section, and an integral central section defining and bounded by said rim section, said rim section of the screw cap for both said shipping and pouring positions of the spout directly engaging said deformable flange of the spout and squeezing it against the container neck to provide a tight seal for the container, said integral central section of the screw cap overlying and closing off the spout when the spout is in shipping position, said integral central section of the screw cap being severed from the rim section after shipment of the container, then to provide an opening through which the spout extends in pouring position with said deformable flange of the spout squeezed against the neck of the container by the rim section of the screw cap.

2. A combination as in claim 1 in which the spout for shipping of the container extends through the neck with one face of the deformable spout flange pressed against the outer end of the neck to form a seal and in which the spout for pouring from the container extends outwardly from the neck with the opposite face of the deformable flange pressed against the outer end of the neck to form a seal.

3. A combination as in claim 1 in which the spout for shipping of the container is telescoped within the neck with a face of the spout flange in contact with the outer end of the neck and in which the spout for pouring from the container extends outwardly from the neck with the same face of the spout flange in contact with the outer end of the neck.

4. A combination as in claim 1 additionally including for the discharge tip of the spout a cap which is of soft, resilient material and which is provided with a peripheral flange for cooperating with a peripheral flange on the discharge tip of the spout to provide a seal.

5. A combination as in claim 1 additionally including for the discharge tip of the spout a cap which is a metal snap disc having peripherally thereof spring fingers yieldably received by the soft discharge tip of the spout.

6. In combination with a container having a threaded neck, a pouring spout having an integral outwardly extending deformable flange, and a screw cap having a threaded side section for removably threadably engaging the neck of the container and having a closed top with an annular rim section and an integral circular section, said annular rim section during shipment of the container pressing said deformable flange of the pouring spout against the top of the container neck and cooperating with said integral circular section to provide liquid-tight integrity of the closure jointly provided by the cap and spout, said circular section of the cap being severable after 5 shipment to provide an opening through which the spout extends for pouring of the container contents, said annular rim section of the screw cap and the deformable flange of the spout cooperating during pouring to provide a leak-proof seal at the joinder of the cap, spout and con- 10 tainer.

1,114,011 Marcuee Oct. 20, 1914 15 6 Canby Sept. 21, Gerhardt Mar. 7, Hyatt July 4, Hoffman Nov. 28, Starcke Jan. 6, Hothersall Oct. 21, Miller Aug. 3, Panfil Oct. 17, Miller Dec. 29, Conner Feb. 16, Doose Dec. 31, Rieke July 24, Lay Aug. 18, 

